quantities for ordering building materials

1. introduction
The quantities given in this pamphlet are approximate. They form a basis for a first estimate of quantities to be used on site. The following notes apply generally.

The importance of curing cannot be overemphasised.

For hardening to occur, cement must have access to water. Once the concrete is allowed to dry, no further strength development will take place. Preventing excessive loss of water is also important to avoid cracking and crazing and the possibility of a weak dusty surface. Cure for at least 7 days, and longer in cold weather when strength development slows down.

Mix proportions in the tables are based on materials being

batched in a loose state, i.e. poured into the batching container without being compacted

Common cement complies with SANS 50197-1. Masonry

cement complies with SANS 50413-1 strength class 22,5X.

2. materials quantities for concrete

The volume of concrete, for rectangular shapes such as foundation strips, floor slabs, etc, is: thickness x length x breadth. If each of these dimensions is measured in metres, the volume will be in cubic metres. Quantities of materials for concrete suitable for hand compaction (i.e. without the use of poker vibrators) are shown in Tables 1a-d and do not include allowance for wastage.

A bag of cement contains 50 kg of cement. It is recommended that cement is only batched in

whole bags.

The capacity of a builders type 5 wheelbarrow

com plying with SANS 795 is about 65 l. Volumes of 130 l and 200 l are therefore equivalent to two and three barrowsful respectively.

The selection of good quality sand and stone is important. Only sufficient water should be used to produce a workable
mix of 60-100 mm slump. Too much mixing water will reduce the strength of the concrete.

Table 1a: 32,5N or R Common cement, 19 mm stone

at 28 days

Material quantities for 2-bag mixes Strength

Cement Sand Stone 50 kg bags Wheelbarrows / Litres

Yield m
0,35

Quantities per m3 of concrete Cement Sand Stone 3 50 kg bag m m3

5,8 7,7 9,2 0,65 0,62 0,60 0,65 0,62 0,60

LOW 3,5 3,5 2 230 l 15 MPa 230 l

MEDIUM 2,5 2,5 2 0,26 160 l 25 MPa 160 l HIGH 2,0 2,0 2 130 l 30 MPa 130 l 0,22

Table 1b: 32,5N or R Common cement, 13,2 mm stone

at 28 days

Material quantities for 2-bag mixes Strength

Cement Sand Stone 50 kg bags Wheelbarrows / Litres

Yield m3
0,33

Quantities per m3 of concrete Cement Sand Stone 3 50 kg bag m m3

6,1 8,4 10,2 0,80 0,68 0,66 0,50 0,54 0,50

LOW 4,0 32,5 2 160 l 15 MPa 260 l

MEDIUM 2,5 2,0 2 0,24 130 l 25 MPa 160 l HIGH 2,0 1,5 2 100 l 30 MPa 130 l Table 1c: 42,5N or R Common cement, 19 mm stone 0,20

at 28 days

Material quantities for 2-bag mixes Strength

Cement Sand Stone 50 kg bags Wheelbarrows / Litres

Yield m3
0,39

Quantities per m3 of concrete Cement Sand Stone 50 kg bag m3 m3

5,1 6,6 7,8 0,67 0,64 0,62 0,67 0,64 0,62

LOW 4,0 4,0 2 160 l 15 MPa 260 l

MEDIUM 3,0 3,0 2 0,30 200 l 25 MPa 200 l HIGH 2,5 2,5 2 160 l 30 MPa 160 l Table 1d: 42,5N or R Common cement, 13,2 mm stone 0,26

at 28 days

Material quantities for 2-bag mixes Strength

Cement Sand Stone 50 kg bags Wheelbarrows / Litres

Yield m3
0,37

Quantities per m3 of concrete Cement Sand Stone 50 kg bag m3 m3

5,4 7,1 8,4 0,79 0,69 0,67 0,53 0,58 0,55

LOW 4,5 3,0 2 200 l 15 MPa 300 l

MEDIUM 3,0 2,5 2 0,28 160 l 25 MPa 200 l HIGH 2,5 2,0 2 130 l 30 MPa 160 l 0,24

Notes on mixes in Tables 1a 1d:

1. Low-strength (15 MPa) concrete is suitable for unrein forced foundations (single storey only); mass fill, infill concrete in masonry (only with13,2 mm stone). 2. Medium-strength (25 MPa) concrete is suitable for un rein forced slabs, reinforced slabs and foundations, infill concrete in masonry (only with 13,2 mm stone). 3. High-strength (30 MPa) concrete is suitable for rein forced concrete members and precast items such as concrete flagstones.

3. mortar mix proportions

The proportion of each material in the mix should suit the type of work being done. Strength requirements and mix proportions recommended by C&CI are given in Table 2. In general, the classes of mortars may be used as follows:

Class ll
Normal loadbearing applications, as well as parapets, balus trades, retaining structures, and freestanding and garden walls, and other walls exposed to possible severe dampness. In practice, Class II mortars are used for most applications. Although SANS 10249 refers to a Class III mortar, it is so seldom used that it has been omitted from Table 2. Other proportions may be used if these can be shown by test to be satisfactory.

Class l
Highly stressed masonry incorporating high-strength structural units such as might be used in multi-storey loadbearing buildings. Reinforced masonry.

Table 2: Mortar strength requirements and mix proportions

Mortar class Preliminary Common2 Masonry3 Common2 Masonry3 Works Sand laboratory cement cement cement, bags 3 cement, bags tests m tests 32,5, 42,5 22,5X 32,5, 42,5 22,5X
I II 14,5 7 10 5 130 l 200 l 65 l 130 l 9,5 7,0 1,23 1,34 14,5 9,5

Minimum required compressive strength at 28 days, MPa

Quantity of sand1 per 50 kg bag of cement, l

Quantities of materials required per m3 of mortar (not including wastage) Sand m3

1,07 1,23

1. Sand is estimated at a 5% moisture content. 2. Common cement complying with SANS 50197-1, strength class 32,5 or 42,5. 3. Masonry cement complying with SANS 50413 -1, strength class 22,5X. NOTE: The addition of lime is optional. A maximum of 40 l is permitted per 50 kg of Common cement. Mix proportions do not need to be adjusted. Only yield will increase by 5%. Do NOT use lime with masonry cement.

Table 3: Quantities of masonry units and mortar

4. quantities of masonry units and mortar

The dimensions of units given in Table 3 are those of the commonly manufactured sizes.

Masonry unit size, mm Masonry Mortar m per units2 1 000 100 m2 Length Width Height per m units walling
190 190 222 222 290 290 290 290 390 390 390 390 90 190 90 106 90 90 140 140 90 90 140 140 140 190 190 90 140 190 110 220 90 90 73 73 90 140 90 140 90 190 90 140 190 90 190 190 190 190 220 220 50 50 52 52 34 23 34 23 25 13 25 17 13 25 13 12 12 10 10 10 0,27 0,57 0,29 0,34 0,36 0,41 0,56 0,63 0,45 0,54 0,70 0,77 0,84 0,95 1,14 0,59 0,90 1,24 0,75 1,50 1,35 2,85 1.51 1,77 1,21 0,92 1,87 1,41 1,13 0.68 1,75 1,29 1,05 2,38 1,43 0,67 1,01 1,37 0,75 1,50

Notes:

The table is based on exact sizes of solid masonry units,

with 10 mm thick bedding and vertical joints, and no wastage. For 15 mm thick joints, multiply the quantity of mortar required by 1,5; for 20 mm thick joints, multiply by 2.

Since no allowance is made for a number of factors

which could influence mortar quantities, the following adjustments should be made: 1. Allow for wastage which could typically range from 20 % to 200 %. 2. For hollow units reduce mortar quantities by: Width of units, mm % reduction 90 - 110 mm 20 140 mm 30 190 - 220 mm 40 3. For units with perforations or holes increase mortar quantities by 15%. 4. For units with frogs; frog laid face up (as required for structural walls), increase mortar quantities by 15%. 5. Once the above adjustments have been made: for mortar ready-mixed and delivered into watertight containers on site, reduce quantities by 20% as against site-mixed mortars

390 390 390 440 440 440 440 440

6. For under- or oversized units: Measure dimensions of 10 units and use the average for calculating the number of units per m2.

5. materials for plaster

Quantities depend on the mix proportions, thickness of plaster and roughness of the background surface.

Exposure conditions
External plaster Internal plaster

Common cement, kg
50 50

Sand l
150 200

Yield per batch, l

120 150

Masonry cement, kg
50 50

Sand l
130 150

Yield per batch, l

108 120

1. Complying with SANS 50197-1, strength class 32,5 or 42,5 2. Sand is estimated at a 5% moisture content 3. Complying with SANS 50413-1, strength class 22,5X or 12,5 NOTE: The addition of lime is optional. A maximum of 40 l is permitted per 50 kg of Common cement. Mix proportions do not need to be adjusted. Only yield will increase by 5%. Do NOT use lime with masonry cement.

To calculate the approximate area that can be covered by a batch of plaster, use the following example: Common cement using a 1:6 mix, i.e. 50 kg cement to 200 l sand. From the table above, the yield = 150 l For 15 mm plaster thickness and 20% wastage = 150 15 1,2 = 8,3 m2

appendix
Field test for quality of sand for mortar and plaster. This simple field test can be used to confirm that the sand yields a smooth, plastic and cohesive mix which does not require excessive amounts of water to reach a brick-laying or plastering consistence. Where possible, the test should be carried out on a sample of sand before placing a final order. The quantities used should be weighed out on a scale which is in good order, and the test carried out on a smooth impervious surface. It is also important that the sample used is fairly representative of the bulk supply. Procedure i) Weigh out the following amounts of material: 5 kg cement 25 kg of dry sand 5 kg (l) of water 1 kg (l) of water ii) Mix the cement and sand to a uniform colour on a non-absorbent surface. iii) Mix, in succession, each of the amounts of water (5 l and 1 l) If 5 l is enough, the sand is of good quality If 5 l +1 l is enough, the mix is of average quality

6. materials for sand-cement floor screeds

Sand-cement screeds are essentially light-duty flooring elements and are suitable for: Wearing surfaces of floors of utility rooms in domestic premises (eg store rooms, garages) Floors covered with carpets, plastic tiles or linoleum, etc and subjected to relatively light traffic such as in offices, shops and hospitals.

Sand-cement screeds are not suitable for industrial premises. Quantities of materials depend on the thickness of the screed. Using a mix consisting of 1 bag of cement and 130 l of coarse sand, and assuming a screed thickness of 25 mm, quantities for 2 3 100 m of screed are 23 bags of cement and 3,0 m of sand. The suggested wastage factor is 10%.

Only good sands are recommended for exterior plasters. Average sands may be used for interior plaster and mortar.

cement & concrete institute

po box 168, halfway house, 1685 block d, lone creek, waterfall park, bekker road, midrand tel 011 315 0300 fax 011 315 0584 e-mail info@cnci.org.za website http://www.cnci.org.za
published by the cement & concrete institute, midrand, 2009. cement & concrete institute